By: Faizan Wani

Srinagar: The administration of J&K Union Territory has expressed its displeasure over slow progress in construction of bunkers for protection of people living near the Line of Control and the International Border.

A record note of a meeting chaired by divisional commissioner Jammu Raghav Langar on June 5 reveals that the administration was dissatisfied over progress in construction of bunkers for border districts of Jammu province to protect them from cross-border shelling.

“The chair showed displeasure over slow pace of progress for construction of these bunkers and told that these bunkers must be completed in a time- bound manner. It was stressed upon all the district development commissioners to ensure the speedy construction of all the remaining/ ongoing bunkers so as to complete them at the earliest,” read the minutes of the meeting lying with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

The meeting was also attended by DCs of Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts.

The meeting was apprised that out of 9905 bunkers (8444 individual bunkers and 1461 community bunkers) taken for execution, 7923 bunkers (6964 individual bunkers and  959 community bunkers ) have so far been completed and 777 bunkers (592 individual bunkers and 185 community bunkers ) are under progress at different stages.

The divisional commissioner, according to the record note, directed the DC to conduct weekly meetings with the executing agencies and monitor both the physical and financial progress for construction/ completion of ongoing and remaining bunkers.

They have also been directed to share detailed physical and financial progress about construction/ completion of the bunkers with the divisional commissioner’s office on monthly basis by or before 05 of every succeeding month.

The divisional commissioner Jammu also made it clear to participants that there will be no escalation of rates for completion of the ongoing/ pending bunkers.

“The chair emphasized that all ongoing/ pending bunkers are part of approved bunkers taken up for execution. The construction of these bunkers has been delayed due to slow progress by the executing agencies. The chair directed that there will be no escalation of rates for completion of these ongoing/ pending bunkers and, as such, be constructed and completed on previous approved/ fixed rates,” the record note reveals.” KNO)

Kupwara:  Police has registered an FIR after army said to have recovery of two Ak-56 rifles, a pistol with holster along with several magazines and rounds along Line of control in Keran sector, officials said on Monday.

They said that army has stated that last night, 22 Sikh regiment recovered the arms and ammunition in Googerdor area in the Keran .

Subsequently, they said, a case (FIR No, 04/21) under section 7/25 (1A) of Arm Act stands registered in police station Keran and investigations started.

The recoveries include two Ak-56 rifles along with six magazines besides 177 Ak-47 rounds, and one pistol with holster along with 28 rounds.

Defence ministry spokesman based in Srinagar feigned ignorance about the recovery even as he said he would confirm it from concerned quarters. (GNS)

By: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: In Jammu and Kashmir nearly sixty percent of the school took a help of community members in providing education to students during the Wave-I of the pandemic, reveals Annual Status of Education Report (ASER).

According to KNO, ASER (Rural) in a report released earlier said 59.3 percent school respondents of Jammu and Kashmir took help from village or community members during the Wave-I of the pandemic.

Besides, the report further states that at least 56.3 percent schools also took help from the village head or ward member of the locality.

ASER has also said that 2.5 percent schools had taken help from the NGO or local volunteers during this period while 8.8 percent had taken help from the older children.

The report also suggests that at least 50 percent of the schools had taken help from the parents or caregivers of the respective local area.

Stating the contribution of Anganwadi workers, ASER has said that at least 6.3 percent of the school respondents took help from them and nearly 3.8 percent had taken help from the School Management Committee (SMC) members.

The report also reads that at least 13.8 percent schools of Jammu and Kashmir had also taken help from some others sources during the lockdown period of Wave-I.

Srinagar: Dozens of persons who had lost their legs during different incidents were given artificial limbs besides other aid in the Kupwara area of North Kashmir.

Abdul Rashid Tantray a resident of Keran area of Kupwara said that he was working as a porter with the Army when he lost his leg in a mine blast a decade ago.

“Now by getting an artificial limb, I am able to move for the first time after 10 years,” he said.

Gulzar Ahmad Khan, a shepherd from the same district, had lost his leg in 2002 in a mine blast when he was with his grazing cattle in the border area.

He said then his relatives and even family members were not behaving well with him since the incident, however, he hopes that everything will be now well as he got an artificial limb and will be able to move around.

Siraj uddin, another local resident who had lost a limb in a separate incident also hopes that his life will prosper now in a positive direction as his movement was confined to bed in absence of a limb.

An official said that Army in collaboration with Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) organised a camp in Pharkian Kupwara where five types of medical aid namely Artificial Limbs, Wheel Chairs, Calipers, Crutches and Hearing Aids were distributed among the local people.

He said that those individuals who were found to have polio related problems were checked in detail by medical officers and were fitted with calipers, crutches and provided with wheelchairs, based on the severity of their deformities.

He added that a detailed hearing test was also conducted for hearing impaired to identify aids that could facilitate better hearing for the affected.

The fitment camp helped 750 persons with disabilities.

He further added that a total of 11 artificial limbs, 17 wheel chairs, 05 calipers, 08 crutches and 35 hearing aids were distributed during the event.

Chief Patron BMVSS, D.R Mehta said the NGO is the world’s largest organization for the handicapped in terms of fitment of artificial limb, callipers and providing  crutches, ambulatory aids like wheelchairs, and other aids and appliances totally free of cost.

“Our aim is to rehabilitate the disabled persons, especially the resource-less, so they could lead a life of dignity and become productive members of the community,” he said.

He added that we have distributed aid to thousands of people free and he added that such camps will continue in future to reach each and every individual affected in one or the other way. (KNO)

 Srinagar: Police on Monday said that it has arrested two drug peddlers from Sheeri and Kreeri area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

In a statement issued to GNS, the police said that Baramulla Police under the supervision of Syed Sajad Hussain-JKPS, DySP Hqrs Baramulla assisted by Inspr. Waseem Jahangir, SHO Police Sheeri arrested one drug peddler namely Arsheed Ahmad Mangral son of Mohd Mukhtar Mangral resident of Salamabad Uri at National Highway near Petrol Pump Sheeri and recovered 6 grams of Brown Sugar like substance from his possession.

The police spokesperson further stated that similarly, under the supervision of Tariq Mehmmod-JKPS, SDPO Kreeri assisted by SI Ghulam Jeelani, SHO Police station Kreeri arrested one drug peddler namely Zahoor Ahmad Lone son Gh Mohd Lone resident of Behrampora at Behrampora and recovered 1Kg & 700 grams of poppy Straw like substance from his possession.

People of District Baramulla hailed the efforts of Baramulla Police and showed their willingness to support police to eradicate menace of Drugs from the society which is the real sign of Police Public relationship, reads the statement.